Milk-bottle holder



- May25 1926. 1,586,289

J. CARPENTER 7 MILK BOTTLE HOLDER.

Filed Sept. 22.. 1924 Patented May 25, 1926.

JOHN WILLIAM oanrnnrnn, or EL rns rnxas.

MILK-BOTTLE HQLDER.

Application filed September 22, 1924. Serial No. 739,104.

This invention relates to an improved device which- I have chosen to designate as a milk bottle holder, the same having referenceto that class of invention utilized for the convenience of both the housewife and the dairyman to facilitate collection and deposit of bottles.

The invention has more specific reference to a device which has been designed to be supported in a convenient position adjacent the house door and it consists'in a sanitary container for the bottle of milk which embodies novel locking means to prevent the milk frombeing stolen.

The device has been designed with a view ofcompelling the customers to place the emptybottle in the container in exchange for the full bottle to avoid the loss of both the empty or the fullbottle. It follows that it is a feature of the invention to provide a container which is provided with two compartments, one for the empty bottle, and one for the full bottle, each con'ipartment being provided with an individual cover and there being locking means in association with these covers, together with additional means cooperating with the bottle for compelling the customer to place an empty bottle in one compartment in order to, permit the other compartment to be opened in the morning for deposit of a full bottle by the dairyman.

It is also a feature of the invention to provide insulated receptacles for the bottles so that the bottle of milk may be maintainedcold for a considerable length of time and at the same time prevented from freezing in winter. Furthermore, it is a fea:

ture to design the device in a manner. for

supporting a full bottle of milk in .an upright position -'so thatin the event it'has' been opened and the cap removed, it can still be maintained in an upright position and its contents prevented from spilling. In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a View partly in section and partly in elevation of a milk bottle holder constructed in accordance with the present invention. v Figure 2 is a top plan View of Figure 1. In carrying out the invention I provide a box or container 1 which is preferably elongated to provide spaced compartments for the empty and full bottles. Each compartment is providedwith its lid or cover 2 and these covers swing to open position in'a direction toward each other, being hingedly connected together at their inner ends, as at 3. Each cover is provided on its top and at its center with a guide channel 4- for accommodating a slidable retaining rod 5.. This rod is provided with a knob 6 by means I of which it is moved back and forth in the channels. The inner ends of the channels are spacedapart where the hinges appear and both channels are in strict alignment with each other so that the locking rod may he slid from one channel into the other. It is to be noted that the outer end portions of the channels are coveredas at?- to serve a purpose to be hereinafter described. Also, at the centers of thechannels, guards 8 are provided. Secured to the opposite ends of the box are metal strips 9which extend above the box and have their upper ends inturned as indicated at 10. These inturned ends proride keepers for cooperation with the adjacent end of the retaining rod. Each cover is provided at the center of its topwith an opening through which the reduced portion 11. of a spring pressed plunger 12 extends.

The portion 11 is provided with a slot which is adapted to align with the channels for a purpose to be later described. Supported on the lower end of the plunger-is an inverted cup 13 having a marginal flange adapted to engage the head of the milk hottle as indicated in Figure 1. Attached to theunder side of the; cover and depending therefrom on diametrically opposite sides of the bottle are resilient guide fingers 14 provided intermediate their ends with outwardly bent grips 15 for engaging the flange of the cup. i

As before intimated, an insulated bottle container 16 is placed in one compartment and this may be of any suitable construction to resist the passage of hot and cold air. By preference, it rests on a yieldable seat 17, while at its top it bears yieldably against a suitably shaped frame 18. When the bottle is in place, it presses upwardly against the cup 13 and results in the lifting of the plunger to dispose the extension 11 in a position to arrange the opening therein in alignment with the guide channel. I Thus, the locking rod 5 can be projected through the opening to engage beneath the adjacent keeper and to hold the cover closed. I would direct attention to the fact however, that when there is no bottle in the container 16 the spring pressed plunger serves to move the cup 13 downwardly and to cover the opening in the extension 11. hen the parts are in this position it is impossible to slide the plunger through the respective guide channel.

Here is the way the device is used: The box 1 is mounted at any convenient place adjacent the door. Before retiring, the housewife is supposed to place the empty bottle in one of the containers 16, say for instance the left hand container in Figure 1. The lid of this container is free to open. When the bottle is placed in position and the cover is closed, the fingers 1% serve to guide the bottle beneath the closing cap 13, resulting in a lifting of the spring pressed plunger 12. Now, the locking rod 5 which is then in the guide channel on the other cover, is moved in a direction from right to left and is projected through the opening in the extension 11 on the plunger beneath the left hand keeper 10, thus retaining this compartment locked. There being no bottle in the other compartment, the locking rod cannot be slid in the opposite guide channel because the plunger extension 11 will not permit this. Thus, the lid to the last named compartment is free to be opened by the milk man who places the bottle there in, locks it, and removes the empty bottle from the other compartment.

It is believed that the foregoing description when taken in connection with the ac companying drawing will enable persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates to obtain a clear understanding of the same. Therefore, while I may go more into detail, I do not believe that this is necessary.

It is to be understood that minor changes may be resorted to such as fall within the scope of the field of invention as claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. A milk bottle holder comprising a box divided into bottle receiving compartments, a separate closure for each compartment, aligned guide channels secured to the top sides of said closures and spaced apart at their inner ends, means hingedly connecting the opposed inner ends of the closures together, keepers attached to the opposite ends of the box, and a retaining rod slidable in said guide channels and cooperative with said keepers.

2. A milk bottle holder comprising a box divided into separate bottle receiving compartments, a separate closure for each compartment, aligned guide channels secured to the tops of said closures and-spaced apart at their inner ends, means hingedly connecting the opposed inner ends of the .closures together, keepers attached to the opposite ends of the box, a retaining rod slidable in said guide channels and alternately cooperative with said keepers, and means in each compartment acted on by a milk bottle placed therein for controlling the sliding of said retaining rod.

8. A milk bottle holder comprising a box divided into bottle receiving compartments, separate hing-ed closures for the compartments, opposed and aligned guide channels on top of said closures, keepers located at the outer ends of said channels, a retaining rod slidable in said channels and cooperative with said keepers, and a spring pressed plunger carried by each cover and adapted to engage the bottle at its inner end, said plunger being provided with an apertured extension, and the cover with which it is associated being PIOXlClGLl with an opening to permit sliding of the extension therethrough.

4. A milk bottle holder comprising a box divided into separate milk bottle compartments, a bottle container in each compartment, a spring pressed seat upon which said container is adapt-ed to be placed, a hinged cover for each compartment, a spring pressed plunger carried by each cover, a guide channel for each cover, a locking rod alternately slidable in either guide channel, a keeper at the outer endo't each channel cooperative with said locking rod, and means carried by said plungers for controlling the sliding of said locking rod.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN W. CARPENTER. 

